University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


v  *• 


ELLIOTT    ELAINE    HENDERSON 


HUMBLE  FOLKS 

POEMS 


COMPOSED  BY 

ELLIOTT  BLAINE  HENDERSON 


Author  of  the  First  and  Second  Editions  of 

"Plantation  Echoes" 
and  "The  Soliloquy  of  Satan" 


SPRINGFIELD,  OHIO 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR 


DEDICATION 


This  work  is  most  respectfully  dedicated  to  the 
following  named  persons: 

J.   PALMER   WINSLOW. 

SAMUEL  STEVENS. 

E.   F.  DUNN. 

D.  H.  TAFT. 

DR.  S.  M.  SHERMAN. 

E.  R.  SHARP. 

Postmaster  H.  =W.  KRUMM,  Columbus,  Ohio. 
FRED.  M.  SAYRE. 

J.  O.  DYE. 

DANIEL  J.  RYAN. 

J.  G.  LYKES. 

E.  L.  PEASE. 

DR.  E.  J.  WILSON,. 

STACY  B.  KANKIN. 

HON.   EMMETT  TOMPKINS. 

DR.  HERBERT  H.  FISHER. 

DR.  A.  H.  VANCE,  Springfield,  O. 

DR.  R.  B.  HOUSE,  Springfield,  O. 

MR.    FRANK    SNYPP. 

MR.   RAYMOND  ZIRKEL. 

MR.  A.  W.   KILER. 

MR.   W.    R.   SIBLEY. 

MR.    EDM.    F.   ARRAS. 

MR.   C.    F.    LUCKHART. 

DR.  W.  U.  COLE. 

MR.  J.  A.  HEDGES. 

MR.   B.   K.   BLACK  and    DR.   E.  A.   HAMILTON. 

MR.  DWIGHT  L.  HARRISON. 

MR.  C.  H.  and  PHILLIP  LINDENBERG. 

MR.  W.  J.  NONNENMACHER. 

MR.  VAL  LOEWER. 


PREFACE 


To  those,  and  they  are  many,  who,  in  their  best 
moments,  seek  not  the  evil  but  the  good,  who  strive 
to  see  all  that  is  best  in  nature  and  mumanity,  this 
little  volume  will  be  welcome. 

In  these  days  when  passion  and  prejudice  seem 
to  overshadow  the  sense  of  justice  it  is  good  to  turn 
to  these  pages. 

They  breathe  the  most  fascinating  and  admirable 
characteristics  of  a  race  that  can  sing  most  effective- 
ly and  simply  the  songs  of  nature,  sound  the  humble 
heart  beats  of  contentment,  and  play  upon  the  lyre 
of  native  philosophy  and  mellow  wit. 

All  the?  misfortune,  the  injustice  and  the  crushing 
disadvantages  of  centuries  have  failed  to  crush  out 
the  song  of  the  negro.  Mr.  Henderson  in  "Humble 
Folks"  sings  and  smiles  again.  His  poetry  is  the 
poetry  of  simplicity,  his  melody  wholly  inspired,  his 
theme  well  within  his  point  of  view  and  essentially 
genuine,  wholesome  and  real. 

By  E.  G.  BURKRAM, 
Editor  of  the  Columbus  Dispatch, 

Columbus,  Ohio. 


CONTENTS 


Reckerflecshun    5 

The  Unexpected   8 

Fishin'  Time  Ergin 10 

Soft  Falls  the  Night 12 

Annoyance    14 

He  Is  Not  Dead 16 

Since  you  Done  Come 17 

Down  in  Ol'  Verginny , 20 

Po'   LIT   Rastus 24 

Yearning    26 

Reminiscence    27 

Pawson  Locus  Visits  Sistah  Tootles 29 

The  Soliloquy  of  Satan   35 

When  de  Fiah  am  Kindlin'  Hot 42 

Wished  I'd  Rode  Mah  Hoss ? 44 

Jes'  Keep  er  Lookin'  Up 46 

Lamentation    48 

When  de  Summah's  dun  Cum 50 

Uncle  Ned  an'  de  Mockin'  Bird 52 

Lullaby    54 

Pawson  Johnson  at  Dinner 55 

Way  Down  Souf 56 

The    Quarrel    58 

Wish  'Twas  Allus  Jes'  Lak  Dis 61 

Trussy's  Visit   62 


' '  RECKERFLECSHUN .' ' 

To  E.  F.  BABBITT. 

Ef  yo'  wan't  to  please  de  ol'  man, 
Make  him  feel  real  young  ergin, 
Fo'git  all  'bout  his  troubles 
An'  jes'  stretch  his  mouf  an'  grin, 
Jes '  f  otch  de  cornstalk  fiddle, 
An'  wid  de  banjo  stawt  er  chune ! 
An'  ah '11  frow  mahse'f  togeddah 
An'  do  some  dancin'  mighty  soon! 

De  ol'  man's  heels  is  itchin' 
Fo'  to  waltz  erbout  some  mo'! 
Look  hyeah!  Bazzle  Johnson — 
Go  an'  fotch  ol'  Uncle  Joe. 
Drap  in  to  de  shanty 
An'  fotch  ol'  Pete,  de  fiddler,  too! 
An'  we'll  hab  er'  barr'l  ob  pleasure 
An'  dey  won't  er  one  be  blue. 


It  'pears  to  me — 
De  older  dat  ah  git, 
De  fudder  ah  kin  jump, 
An '  ah  gits  er  hoi '  mo '  grit. 
Umph !    Ah  feels  lak  fro  win ' 
Off  mah  swaller  tail  coat! 
An'  buttin',  jes'  fo'  mischief 
Lak  massa's  billy  goat. 


All's  wedderd  many  storm, 
But  ah 's  still  good  yet ! 
Eat  ez  many  'Possums, 
Ez  yo '  put  up  at  er  bet ! 
Drink  ez  much  whiskey 
Fum  mah  ol'  dimmeejohn, 
An'  hanker  fo'  mo', 
When  it's  ebbry  bit  gone. 

Ah  spec'  yo'  tink  ah's  foolin', 
But  ah  hain't  jokin'  none  ! 
Ah's  jes'  ez  full  er  mischief, 
An'  ah's  jes'  ez  full  er  fun ! 
Kin  do  ez  many  jiggs 
Ez  yo'  young  fo'ks  kin 
An'  still  keep  mah  'liggen 
An'  won't  do  no  sin. 

Ah's  sebbentee  two  ah  reckons, 

An'  er  li'l  mo'  beside  ! 

Hard  in  de  mussle 

An'  soople  in  de  hide! 

Ef  er  mule  would  kick  me, 

De  way  ah  now  feels, 

Ah  could  sock  him  'twix  his  eyeballs 

An'  knock  him  off  his  heels! 

Ah  sometimes  gits  to  tinkin' 
'Bout  de  ol'  Verginny  Reel! 
An'  how  ah  uster  hop  it, 
Wid  ol'  Aunt  Nancy  Steel. 
It's  de  troof !   Befo'  ah  knows  it, 
Ah's  er  jumpin'  up  an'  down, 
An'  dis  ol'  man,  mah  good  chilleu, 
Am  er  ac'in'  lak  er  clown! 


Soo  Fronee  calls  me  giddy! 
Er  hippercrit  an'  sich, 
An'  sometimes  tries  to  wollup 
Me,  an'  git  me  in  er  hitch. 
She  says  ah  is  er  Joodes, 
An '  only  fit  f  o '  sin ! 
But  ah  jes'  laf  an'  tickle 
An'  go  at  it  ergin. 

It  seems  ah  jes'  kain't  he'p  it! 
Ah's  got  to  hab  mah  fun. 
Ah  don't  kyah  ef  ah's  sixty, 
Er  ef  ah 's  ninety  one ! 
Dey's  no  use  gittin'  feeble, 
An'  lettin'  go  yo'  vim! 
When  sich  ez  deez  hyah  frolics 
Will  keep  yo'  peert  an'  trim. 

So  sot  yo'  foots  down  on  it! 

Dis  ting,  ah  let  yo'  know. 

Ah's  ready  any  secon' 

Fo'  to  buss  plum  loose  an'  go ! 

Jes'  fetch  de  cornstalk  fiddle, 

An'  fotch  de  banjo,  to, 

An'  when  ah's  danced  mah  limit, 

Yo  '11  say,  dis  ol '  man 's  flew ! 


THE  UNEXPECTED. 

To  SIDNEY  A.  KNIGHT  AND  DR.  R.  B.  HOUSE. 

Howdy  do  Miss  Kosy! 

Hain't  dis  hyah  mawnin'  fine? 

Skewze  mah  millyeriarty 

May  ah  ask  yo '  whah  yo  's  gwine  ? 

Dis  is  sech  er  pleasure, 

Dis  is  seeh  delight! 

Fo'  to  hab  de  flisstee 

Meetin'  one  so  much  petight! 

Ah's  jes'  been  er  broozin' 
An'  er  trompin'  kinder  slo', 
Mah  whol'  heart  er  wishin' 
An'  er  pinin'  fo'  er  beau. 
Dey  hain't  no  udder  lady 
Dat  ah'd  radder  hab  wid  me, 
Habs  yo'  any  jeckshuns 
Habin'  long  mah  company? 

Tank  yo'  Mistah  Bonesett, 

Yo'  exspunkshens  am  perfoun'! 

It's  so  narrokottick 

Fo '  to  allus  see  yo '  'roun '. 

Yo's  so  full  ob  chantmen' 

An'  sech  polish 'd  glass  ob  speech, 

Dat  mah  comprehenshun 

Grabbertates  short  ob  yo'  reach. 


Deed  ah  feels  so  flattered ! 
Do  yo'  tink  ah's  so  petight? 
Wid  exhilleration 
Ah  mus '  say  yo 's  so  perlight ! 
Dis  so  sudden  pleasure 
Radderfies  me  to  deplore ! 
'Cep'in'  yo'  abscortment 
To  me  hain  't  er  bit  er  bore ! 

Ah  mus'  say  Miss  Rosy 
Dat  ah  kain't  wid  yo'  compeet! 
De  kayshun  am  enchantmen' 
An'  de  sweetness  am  concreet! 
Yo's  got  me  plum  encompassed 
Wid  de  radiance  ob  yo '  view. 
Take  mah  lef '  arm  please  Miss 
An'  ahll  tote  erlong  wid  you! 


FISHIN'  TIME  ERGIN! 

Dis  am  fishin '  time  ergin ! 
We'll  drink  good  liquor 
We  '11  drink  good  gin ! 
Ah '11  git  Sam  Stevens 
An'  me  an'  de  Jedge 
Sich  fishin '  times ! 
We'll  hab  at  de  bridge! 

Sam's  er  rompin'  good  feller 
An'  ah  laks  him  mos'  fine. 
He's  er  'spert  wid  de  hook 
An '  er  'spert  wid  de  line ! 
We's  trabled  lots  togedder 
An'  when  de  Jedge  is  'long 
Everyting's  happy 
Ez  er  tucky  buzzard's  song. 

Ah  tells  yo'  whut's  de  matter, 
Ah  tells  yo'  whut's  er  fac' 
Ah  feels  so  pow'ful  flouncin', 
Till  all  mah  jints  crac ' ! 
Ah  does  feel  boss ! 
An'  ah  don't  kyar  er  whopper, 
Ef  ah  hain't  got  er  nickel, 
Ner  ah  hain  't  got  er  copper ! 


10 


Bass  an'  suckers 

Am  er  bitin'  mighty  fine ! 

Umph !  how  ah  wants, 

To  frow  out  mah  line ! 

Den  fotch  out  mah  rabbit's  foot, 

Lay  it  on  de  san', 

Den  boys!    Ah's  sho' 

Gwine  to  koch  sumpin'  gran'! 

Sich  times  to  me's 
Lak  er  love  feas'  meetin', 
Whah  ebbry  one's  nouncin' 
An'  de  benches  am  er  beatin'. 
Ef  yo'  all  kinder  doubt  me, 
Ef  yo'  want  er  KT  proof, 
Jes'  watch  dis  ol'  gem'men 
Kick  shingles  off  de  roof! 

So  white  fo'ks  brae'  fo'ks, 
Lemmee  tell  yo'  all, 
Yo'  may  tink  dis  cheek, 
Yo'  may  tink  dis  gall. 
Huntin'  de  possum, 
An'  chasin'  de  coon, 
Hain't  in  it  wid  fishin', 
In  de  ol'  time  1'goon. 


11 


SOFT  FALLS  THE  NIGHT. 

To  GEORGE  M.  WINWOOD  JK.,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

Soft  falls  thenight— 

And  chases  'way 
The  slowly  dying 

Summer  day. 
The  sun  from  his 

ethereal  height, 
Is  curtained  by 

The  shades  of  night. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  birds  that  tune 
Their  songs  with  nature 

In  commune 
Now  hush  their  lays 

Seek  silent  rest, 
Within  their  downy 

Leafy  nests. 

Soft  falls  the  night- 
Sweet  peace  divine 

In  each  heart  comes 
To  be  enshrined, 

While  angels  pause 
On  earth  to  show'r. 

The  blessings  of  the 
Sovereign  power. 


12 


Soft  falls  the  night— 

A  peaceful  sleep 
O'er  earthly  mortals 

Doth  now  creep. 
They  rest  now  from 

Their  day's  pursuit — 
The  world  is  still, 

The  world  is  mute. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  verdure  green 
Now  glistens  with 

A  dewy  sheen. 
The  flowers  droop, 

Their  petals  close, 
They  dream  away 

In  sweet  repose. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

Lo !  breaks  the  dawn, 
And  nature  'wakens 

With  the  morn, 
Exulting  y 

Sends  up  her  lays, 
Her  symphonies, 

To  God  in  praise. 


13 


"ANNOYANCE." 

To  DR.  ALBERT  COOPBR  AND  M.  MCDONALD. 

Go  way  Sambo !    Stop  er  pesterin '  me ! 
Ah  haint  er  gwine  to  tell  yo'  no  mo'. 
De  nex'  time  yo'  ax  me  fo'  mo'  short  cake, 
Ah's  gwine  to  smack  yo'  plum  out  dat  doh! 

Yo's  wusser  den  Fido, 

Er  hangin'  'roun'. 

Quit  yo '  bawlin ' !    Quit  yo '  frown. 

Ah's  gwine  to  fotch  de  hants 

An'  let  'em  git  yo' 

Ef  yo'  don't  walk  chalk— 

Dat's  whut  ah '11  do! 

Whah's  yo'  been, 

Yo'  nappy  head, 

'Eoun'  lickin'  lasses 

Off  de  white  chile's  bread? 

Ef  yo'  don't  leave  de  white 

Chile's  trash  erlone 

Ah '11  wollup  yo',  hyah  me? 

Till  yo '  holler  an '  moan. 

Yo'  mus'  hab  two  stummicks 

An'  er  ha'f  beside. 

Whah  does  yo'  put 

All  dat  stuff,  in  yo'  hide? 


14 


Yo'  eat  an'  eat 

Till  yo'  eyes  bulge  out! 

It's  er  sprize  to  me 

Dat  yo'  hain't  got  de  gout. 

Ah  11  short  cake  yo', 
Wid  dis  big  raw  hide. 
Ef  yo'  don't  lemme  'lone 
An'  go  outside. 
Yo'  hain't  no  count 
But  to  sleep  an'  eat 
Jes'  lookee  dah ! 
At  yo '  dirty  brae  feet ! 

No  wonder  yo's  got 

Sich  gutts  in  yo'  feet. 

Yo'  don't  do  nuffin' 

But  sleep  an'  eat. 

But  ah  guess  dat's  er  weakness 

An'  er  trait  of  Ham. 

*  *  *  *  * 

Sukie?    Whah's  de  sheep  meat? 
Sukie?    Whah's  de  lam? 


15 


HE  IS  NOT  DEAD. 


Weep  not!   He  is  not  dead — 
'Though  sepulchered,  the  tenement  of  clay, 
The  severance  of  the  silver  chord 
Means  but  new  birth  to  live  alway. 

Decrepit,  so  made  by  fleeting  years, 
Fatigued,  with  faltering  step 
He  climbed  life's  weary  way, 
Beyond  the  enshrouding  mists 
His  soul  cleaves  the  vaulted  skies, 
Merged  in  the  realm  of  supernal  day. 

The  great  white  throne  embellished  with 
The  choiring  throngs  resounding 
With  the  rhythm  of  spheres, 
Welcomed  this  soul  that  took  it's  flight 
From  earth  'mid  grief  and  falling  tears. 

Indelibly  stamped  upon  life's  way 

He  left  his  impress  for  his  race  to  live 

When    stars    grown    ancient     dismissed    from 

vaulted  skies 
With  fulgent  suns  sink  no  more  to  rise. 

Gilded  upon  the  heavenly  scroll, 
Fulgent  as  the  spheres  that  roll 
Onward  and  onward  through  space, 
His  sacred  name  there  finds  its  place. 

The  shedding  of  Christ's  blood  on  Calvary 

Was  for  such  as  he,  who  lived  the  life 

The    great   tribunal    approbates,    that   swings 

awide 
The  golden  gates. 


16 


SINCE  YOU  DONE  COME. 

To  DR.  HERBERT  H.  FISHER. 

Lawd  Brudder  Rufus, 

Ah's  glad  to  see  yo'  sho' 
Fetch  dat  millun 

Inside  dis  doh! 
Ah's  jes'  been  er  sotin'  hyah 

Er  feelin'  kinder  glum 
But  ah's  powerful  better,  now, 

Since  yo's  done  come. 

Ah  haint  blue ! 

Ah  ham 't  glum ! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder 

Since  yo  done  come. 

Sakes,  erlie ! 

Whut  sweet  delight ! 
Don't  yo'  know  Brudder 

Yo's  he'p'd  me  might? 
De  Lawd's  bound  to  bress  yo', 

Ah's  gwine  to  ax  Him,  too! 
Brudder?    Yo'b 'longs 

To  de  chosen  few ! 

Ah  hain't  blue! 

Ner  ah  hain't  glum! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder, 

Since  yo '  done  come ! 


17 


Yo'  knows  Brudder  Rufus, 

Ah  allus  lak'd  you, 
Han '  me  dat  millun ! 

Lemmee  kyarv  it  in  two ! 
No  use  waitin', 

Jes '  well  stawt  in ! 
See  hyah  Brudder, 

Whah  mus'  ah  begin'? 

Ah  hain't  blue! 

Ah  hain  't  glum ! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder, 

Since  yo '  done  come  ! 

Mus'  ah  plug  her  hyah? 

Er  mus'  ah  plug  her  dah  ? 
Ah '11  plug  her  in  de  middle ! 

Umph!    Now  lookee  dah! 
Er  feas'  for  de  Gods 

An'  er  feas'  fo'  de  king! 
Come  on  Rufus 

Les  eat  dis  ting! 

Ah  hain't  blue! 

Ner  ah  hain 't  glum ! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder 

Since  yo '  done  come ! 


18 


It's  eweeter  den  lasses 

It's  sweeter  den  wine! 
Pardon  dis  spresshun, 

But  ah  wish  'twas  all  mine  ! 
It  mus'  hab  been  de  Lawd 

Dat  saunt  yo '  dis  way ! 
Yo  's  allus  welcome  Ruf us 

In  dis  shanty,  lemmee  say ! 

Ah  hain't  blue! 

Ah  hain't  glum! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder 

Since  yo '  done  come  ! 

Wade  in,  Ruf  us ! 

Don't  wait  fo'  me! 
Dis  wattah  millun, 

Is  all  ah  kin  see! 
Ah's  done  de  kyarvin* 

Yo'  do  de  res'! 
Ruf  us!    Wattah  millun' 

Am  er  ting  ah  laks  bes' ! 

Ah  hain  't  blue  ! 

Ner  ah  hain't  glum! 
De  Lawd  knows  Brudder 

Since  yo '  done  come ! 


19 


DOWN  IN  OL'  VERGINNY. 

To  DR.  H.  W.  WHITAKBR  AND  DR.  C.  A.  HOWELL. 

Ah  jes'  got  back  fum  Ginny, 
An'  yo'  tawk  erbout  er  time 
It  didn  't  cos '  er  nickel, 
Ner  it  didn't  cos'  er  dime ! 
All  de  latch  strings  ob  de  shanties 
Was  er  hangin'  out  fo'  me, 
An'  dey  come  eroun'  to  see  me 
Same  ez  at  er  huskin'  bee! 


When  dey  hyah  ah'd  done  erriven, 
Why  dey  all  come  troopin'  'roun', 
De  ol'  fo'ks  an'  de  young  fo'ks 
Fum  mos'  ebbry  pawt  de  town. 
Dey  filed  into  de  shanty, 
Went  to  shakin'  hands  wid  me, 
Ez  doh  it  was  de  fustes'  time 
Dey'd  seed  me  since  we's  free! 


Dey  shook  mah  hand  an'  squeezed  it 
Sum  de  brudders  full  ob  vim, 
Till  dey  bent  me  nigh  mos'  dubble 
An'  ah  shook  in  ebbry  lim'. 
Dey's  some  dem  good  ol'  brudders 
Got  er  grip  jes'  lak  er  vice. 
An'  yo'  bet  ah  wasn't  dyin' 
Fo'  to  hab  'em  shake  it  twice. 


Ah  thought  dey's  gwine  to  eat  me 
Sich  er  'cepshun  dat  ah  got! 
Dey  said  ah's  gwine  to  git 
Some  ob  de  bes'  was  in  de  pot. 
De  whole  passel  got  'roun'  me, 
Went  er  circlin'  'roun'  an'  'roun', 
An'  we  all  was  soon  er  habin' 
Jes  ez  much  fun  ez  er  clown. 

'Twas'  lak  er  love  feas'  meetin', 

Er  regular  juberlee ! 

De  way  dem  fo'ks  was  fussin' 

An  er  kyarin'  on  ober  me. 

Ebberybody  joyed  it 

An'  dey  was  no  standin'  back 

Plenty  hosskerpalty 

An'  dey  wasn't  nuffin'  slack! 

Dey  dooced  me  an'  dey  dooced  me 
To  fus'  one  an'  den  de  udder, 
Dey  kep'  me  dar  er  bowin' 
Till  mah  heart  was  in  er  nutter! 
1  Twas,  howdy  Uncle  Peter ! 
'Twas,  howdy  cousin,  too ! 
'Twas,  ah's  jes'  feelin'  tollable, 
Uncle  Noah,  how  yo'  do? 

'Twas,  look  hyah,  yo'  hain't  Mandy's, 

An'  ol'  man  Bazzel's  boy? 

Umph!    Fo'  de  Lawd  sakes,  honey! 

Do  let  me  dance  fo'  joy! 

Look  hyah !    Yo '  mean  to  tell  me, 

Yo's  ol'  man  Bazzel's  chile? 

See  hyah,  in  mah  shanty, 

Dey 's  room  f o '  vo '  all  de  while. 


21 


'Twas  come  to  Sunday  meeting 
An'  love  feas'  chewsday  night! 
An'  don't  fo'git  de  quiltin' 
At  Sis  Merlindy  White's. 
'Twas  come  an'  eat  sum  dinner! 
An'  stay  erwhile  wid  me. 
Jes'  eat  an'  drink  good  liquor, 
Till  yo  's  too  blind  to  see ! 

'Twas,  how's  ol'  Uncle  Rastus 

An'  Miss  Eliza  Jane. 

An'  how  is  craps  up  yonder, 

An'  is  yo'  gittin'  rain? 

Say  ?    Whah  's  ol '  Game  Leg  Ruff  els  ? 

Is  Sally  married  yet? 

An'  how's  yo'  ol'  dog  Fido? 

An'  whuts  yo'  done  wid  pet? 

Yo'  tawk  erbout  yo'  eatin', 
Whut  dey  had  fixed  up  fo'  me, 
'Twas  nuff  to  feed  er  reg'ment, 
An'  twelve  monkeys  up  er  tree ! 
Dey  nearly  lak'd  to  kill  me, 
Er  feedin'  me  so  much  stuff. 
An'  still  dey  kep'  er  sayin', 
Chile?    Yo'  hain't  eat  ernuff! 

Ah  nebbah  had  sich  fusses, 
Made  ober  me  bef  o ' ! 
When  it  was  time  fo'  gwine, 
Ah  diden'  want  to  go! 
De  ol'  fo'ks  got  eroun'  me, 
Er  beggin'  me  to  stay. 
To  tell  de  troof  erbout  it, 
Ah  could  bahly  git  erway! 


22 


Dem  fo'kses  down  in  Ginny    , 
Lissen  whut  ah's  got  to  say, 
Dey'll  feed  yo'  an'  dey'll  bunk  yo', 
An'  dey  nebber  ax  no  pay! 
Dey  treat  yo '  lak  de  f amly, 
Dat's  de  way  dey  make  yo'  feel, 
An'  dey'll  gibb  yo'  plenty  boghead 
Poke  an'  beans  fo'  ebbry  meal! 

Ef  ah  keeps  er  tawkin'  'bout  it 
Ah '11  tote  back  dah  fo'  ah  know! 
Kaze  de  way  dem  f  o  'ks  done  treat  me, 
Ah  hain't  'tented  hyah  no  mo'! 
Ah's  got  er  mighty  hankrin' 
Fo'  ol'  Virginny  place, 
An'  all  ah  want's  de  'vitin' 
An'  ah's  sho'  ah  won't  be  skace! 


23 


PO'  LI'L'  RASTUS. 

To  E-  L.  ENSIGN  AND  DR.  G.  W.  MILLKR. 

Little  Rastus  feelin'  blue — 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Out  o'  sorts  an'  gloomy,  too! 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Broke  his  little  hobby  hoss. 
Mekes  de  liV  fellah  cross. 
Doan'  cry,  honey,  'tain'  much  loss. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 

He  jes'  wo'  out,  rompin'  'roun', 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Git  up,  honey,  fum  de  groun'. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 

Look  ee  dah,  dun  spiled  yo'  dress, 
An'  it  am  yo'  Sunday  bes', 
Now  hain't  yo'  er  poody  mess! 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 

Whut  dat  stickin'  on  yo'  han'f 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Yo'  been  in  de  'lasses  can. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Whut  dat  whut  de  Bible  say 
'Bout  de  chile  dat  steal  dat  'way? 
He  '11  go  whah  de  bad  man  stay ! 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 


24 


Dat  ol'  bad  man  am  er  sight. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Cum  er  sneakin'  'roun'  at  night. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 

Cum  an  koch  yo'  when  yo'  sleep, 
Den  he  take  er  great  big  leap ! 
Down  er  hoi '  dat  's  way  down  deep ! 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 

Cum  hyeah,  little  wooly  head. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Gwine  to  tuck  yo'  way  to  bed. 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 
Look  ee  dah,  de  day  dun  gone! 
Shaddahs  streamin'  th'ew  de  co'n, 
Sleep  until  de  sunlight  dawn! 

Po'  liT  Rastus! 


25 


YEARNING. 

To  MR.  J.  T.  RICKS,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

When  de  moon  streams  down 

On  er  kam  still  night, 

Let  me  sot  by  de  moss-cubbahd  stream, 

An'  plink  out  de  ditties  ub  mah  ol'  banjo, 

While  mah  soul  steals  erway  in  o'  dream. 

Jes'  git  out  dah  whah  de  solemness  come, 

Whah  de  kentry  am  still  ez  def ; 

When  de  honeysuckles  sleep  an'  dey  hide  dey- 

selves, 

An'  de  li'l  winds  bio'  dey  bref. 
Whah  de  bullfrog  hollers  neef  de  ol'  pine  tree, 
An'  de  kill-dee  an'  de  lonesome  quail  call, 
Whah  de  owl  hoots  slo'  ez  de  moon  draps  lo' 
Ez  de  night  shades  slip  an'  fall. 

Whah  de  willers  hang  lo', 

An'  dey  'pears  to  weep 

Ez  de  night  bird's  plaint  come  down, 

An'  de  li'l  brooks  skip  in  jubilee 

While  murmurrin'  out  dey  sound. 

Dat  am  sech  er  place  whah  I  longs  to  be, 

When  de  night  am  still  an'  kam; 

When  all  de  worl'  seems  los'  in  def 

An'  lef  yo'  whah  yo'  am. 


26 


REMINISCENCE. 

To  POSTMASTER  JAMES  H.  RABBITTS,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

When  de  shadows  ub  de  evenin' 
Gently,  sof'ly  fallin'  'roun', 
'Cross  de  lonely  fields  an'  meadows, 
Gums  de  cattle's  lowin'  soun'; 

An'  de  vespah  bells  am  ringin' 
An'  dey  blen'  in  tuneful  lay, 
It's  a  knell  dat's  sad  an'  mournful 
To  de  dying  summah  day. 

An'  yo'  weary  fum  de  labah 

Ub  de  tillin'  ob  de  soil, 
Fum  sun  up  'till  time  ob  sinkin' 
Widout  res'  mus'  toil  an'  toil; 

How  yo'  welcome  on  de  hours, 

Blissful  seezunns  all  ub  res' 
When  a  neslin'  'neef  de  kibbahs, 

Yo'  kin  soff'en  pillahs  press. 

When  de  liT  lights  ob  hebun 

Fum  behine  dey  kibbah  peep, 
All  er  blinkin'  an'  er  twinklin' 

Ez  dey  'cross  de  hebuns  creep; 
Dah's  a  sadden  feelin'  takes  yo', 

Ez  yo'  lonely  sot  an'  sigh, 
Ez  yohr  mem'ry  goze  to  'fleck 'in 

Ob  de  olden  days  gone  by. 


27 


How  yohr  ole  home  cums  befo'  yo' 
Wid  de  fiah-place  all  erflame, 
Ez  it  kindled  an'  enliven M 
Yo'  into  a  joyful  frame; 
An'  de  scene  at  night  when  gaddahd 

All  eroun'  yohr  mammy  sot, 
Ez  she  tole  yo'  little  stohries, 
Allus  chahms  de  liV  tot. 

Seemz  yo'  hyeah  de  ol*  fo'ks  singin', 

An'  dey  voices  ringin'  clah, 
Ez  at  night  all  knelt  togeddah 

Fo'  to  ax  de  mahstah's  kyah, 
To  puzzurb  dem  fum  de  ebil 

Spirits  lurkin'  far  an'  neer;. 
Keep  dey  minds  all  free  fum  feelin's 

Soopahstishun  an'  fum  feer. 

How  yo '  long  yo's  wif  de  dahkies 

Once  mo'  gaddahd  in  de  field, 
When  at  night  all  in  de  moonlight, 

Danced  de  ole  Virginny  reel; 
To  de  plumpin'  ob  de  banjos 

An'  de  fiddle's  sawin'  choon, 
An'  de  songs  dat  wuz  triumphant 

To  de  ole  plantayshun  coon. 

How  yo'  wish'd  to  'gain  libb  obah 
Dem  days  at  yo'  ol'  home  spot, 
Wid  yo'  frens  dat's  cross 'd  de  ribbah, 
Wuz  again  yo'  happy  lot; 

But  dem  days  hab  gone  fohebbah, 
Nebah  mo '  will  dey  return, 
When  yo'  sot  an'  'fleck  erbout  'emr 
How  yo'  ole  heart  fo'  dem  yearn. 


28 


PAWSON  LOCUS  VISITS  SISTAH  TOOTLES. 

To  PROF.  LADRU  M.  LAYTON,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

Howdy  Sistah  Tootles! 

Ah's  jes'  er  passin'  by. 
Thought  I'd  kindah  drap  in 

Let  yo'  kno'  revival's  nigh. 
Hain't  seed  yo'  out  to  meetin', 

Ner  Deacon  Tootles  needer, 
Yo '  know  ah  miss  yo '  all 

Kaze  yo's  so  good  er  stawtin'  meeter. 


How's  de  ol'  fo'ks  an'  de  chillen? 

Tell  me  how  dey's  gittin'  long, 
When  yo'  doan  come  out  to  meetin' 

Ah  knows  dey  am  sumpin'  wrong. 
How's  de  ol'  man's  roomertism, 

How's  his  gout,  his  corns  an'  chills? 
Seems  dis  whole  big  human  f  amly 

Mus'  hab  some  de  aches  an'  ills. 


Well  ah  guess  it's  bes'  to  hab  'em 

Kaze  de  Lawd  he  had  'em  too. 
So  we  jes'  well  keep  on  trus'in' 

An'  ah  guess  he'll  fotch  us  froo. 
Paul  he  had  'em,  good  ol'  Lijah, 

Moses  an'  de  res'  de  flock 
But  dey  kep'  dey  foots  er  trompin' 

On  de  good  ol'  Zion's  rock. 


29 


Doan'  yo'  kno'  good  Sistah  Tootles, 

Ah's  had  trials  dat  prick 'd  lak  thorns. 
An'  I'd  git  so  glum  an'  muddled, 

Wished  I'd  nebbah  done  been  born, 
When  de  fus'  ting  dat  I'd  knows  ob 

Some  good  Sistah  jes'  lak  yo', 
Would  fotch  'roun'  er  great  big 

Possum,  sich  stuff 
An'  er  chicken  er  two. 


Den  right  dah  mah  burden  drapp  'd  off 

An'  mah  soul  got  light  ez  air 
An'  yo'  good  ol'  pawson,  honey 

Was  widout  an'  ache  er  care. 
Well  sah!  ef  hyar  hain't  de  Deacon, 

Deed  it  dooz  mah  soul  delight, 
Jes'  er  gittin  ready  am  yo', 

Po'  to  stawt  out,  well  dat's  right. 
Man  mus'  earn  his  bread  an'  butter 

In  de  perspire  ob  his  brow, 
Diggin'  tayters,  wheelin' 

Turnips,  makin '  out  ah  guess  some  how. 

Hope  yo'll  make  er  lots  ob  money, 

Sabe  de  Pawson  liT  bit, 
Kose  yo'  knows  de  Bible  pintly 

Says  dis  one  ting,  don't  fo'git. 
Good  day  Deacon,  trus'  de  Lawd  sah! 

An'  he'll  fotch  yo'  froo  alright, 
Ah  '11  pray  some  too 

Fo '  yo '  brduadh,  f o '  ah  goes 
To  bed  tonight. 


30 


Am  dat  Rastus?    Come  hyar  sonny 

He  am  jes'  de  spit  ob  yo'. 
Got  er  head  lak  Bookah  Wash  'ton 

Make  er  preechah  ob  him  too, 
Yo'  been  in  de  lasses,  hain't  yo? 

Stealin'  shoogah  fum  yo'  mammy. 
Yo's  jes'  up  de  same  ol'  trixins 

Lak  dat  boy  ob  mine  call'd  Sammy. 

An '  dah  's  Sukie,  come  hyar  honey 
Come  an'  shake  de  Pawson's  hand. 

Siss  yo's  got  de  sweetes'  chillen 
In  mah  Sabbath  schoolin'  band. 


See  hyar  siss,  yo's  lookin'  splendid! 

Yo'  keeps  gittin'  better  lookin' 
Yo'  jes'  lak  some  peert  young  lassy, 

Why  doan'  yo'  hab  yo'  picter  tookin'? 
Ah  jes'  wish  yo'  wasn't  married 

Ah  jes'  wish  yo'  wasn't  too, 
I'd  jes'  gwine  an'  oftch  de  papers 

We'd  git  married 
Dat's  whut  we'd  do. 

Siss  yo'  wouldn't  hab 

No  'jections  would  yo' 
Ef  sich  was  de  case? 

Yo'  am  jes'  de  kine  ob  Sistah 
Fo '  to  be  in  sich  er  place. 

Yo'  kin  sing  all  kinds  ob  meeters, 
Yo'  kin  pray  lak  sixty,  too 

Dey  hain't  nuffin'  in  church  tictacks 
Dat  mah  Sistah  yo'  kain't  do. 


31 


Kose  ol'  Betsy  she  still  totes  roun' 

An'  fo'  years  we's  been  togeddah, 
But  ah  tell  yo '  Sistah  Tootles, 

She  am  'trary  ez  Ruff  weddah, 
She's  so  jealous,  an' 

She's  got  so  dat  she  frows 
Flat  irons  at  me, 

Ebbry  time  ah's  got  er  'pinion 
Dat  wiff  her  doan'  'zackly  'gree. 


Tings  am  gittin'  too  prekyaress 

Ah  kain't  stand  de  ting  er  tall, 
Why  she  shubb  'd  me  in  de  fiah  place 

Kaze  ah  mentioned  Sistah  Gaul. 
Kose  ah  nat'ly  laks  de  Sistah 's 

'Zacly  lak  de  Lawd  intended 
An'  ah  isn't  gwine  to  slight  'em 

Doan'  kyar  how  she  gits  offended, 
But  ah  guess  yo 's  got  er  nuff  troubles 

Wiffout  hyarin'  mah  tales  an'  woes, 
Kaze  ah  got  mo'  fo'  to  mention 

Den  ah's  in  mah  shack  got  clothes. 


See  hyar  Sistah  Tootles, 

Ah's  jes'  tellin'  Bruddah  Bryahs 
Dat  he  oddah  tas'e  yo'  cookin' 

Yo's  de  bes'  cook  in  de  choirs, 
Dey  hain't  no  use  er  tawkin' 

Fum  Sally  down  to  Mandy, 
When  it  comes  to  ol'  time  cookin' 

Dey  hain  't  no  one  lak  yo '  handy. 


32 


No  ah  tank  yo'  mah  good  sistah, 

Ah  regrets  ah  kain't  sot  down, 
Kose  yo'  knows  ahs  lots  ob  visits 

Fo'  to  make  erbout  de  town. 
Some  de  sistahs  will  git  jealous 

Ef  de  Pawson  doan'  call  'roun' 
So  ah  mus'  keep  tings  harmonious 

Ef  ah  specs  to  stay  in  town. 

Ah  jes'  had  er  minute  sistah, 

But  to  yo'  mah  specs  mus'  make. 
Sis  whut  dat  er  sotin'  yondah? 

Am  dat  some  dat  ol'  poun'  cake? 
Look  lak  somepun's  boun'  to  happen 

Fo'  to  make  me  late  some  how, 
Sistah  skewze  mah  f  ernal  bruppness 

Jes'  er  slice  ob  dat  right  now. 

Ah  mus'  say  ah  jes'  kain't  he'p  it 

Yo's  de  bes'  ermong  mah  sheep. 
Oh  f  o '  Gawd  sakes !    Sistah  Tootles, 

Hain  't  yo'  gwine  to  some  dat  keep  ? 
Umph !    Yo '  sholy  lubbs  yo '  Pawson 

Yo 's  done  proved  dat  ting,  ah  kno ' 
Mah  times  up,  ah  knows,  good  sistah 

But  it  seems  ah  jes  kain't  go. 

Whut  yo'  gwine  to  do  now  Sistah? 

Fotch  some  possum  ?    Whut  yo '  say, 
Look  er  hyar  de  way  yo'  fixin' 

Ah  woan'  git  erway  to  day, 
Kose  yo'  hain't  ergwine  to  'suit  me 

Fotch  whut  ebb  ah  dah  yo's  got, 
Hain't  yo'  got  er  few  dem  chittlins 

Kinder  steamin'  in  de  pot? 


33 


Hab  yo '  ?    Mah  sakes  Sistah  Tootles 
Dis  am  bettah  den  revival, 

Dis  am  gospul,  dis  hain't  flattah 
Dey's  no  one  dat  am  yo'  rival. 
Doan'  git  angry  wid  yo'  Pawson, 
Ah  doan'  mean  no  'fense  er  tall, 

Ah  jes'  feels  jes'  lak  one  ob  yo' 
Ebbry  time  ah  makes  er  call. 


Had  no  idea  dat  ahs  gwine  to 

Hab  sich  sprizes  'frust  on  me 
Seems  de  Lawd  am  'tinually  boun'  to 

Rain  sich  manna  down  on  me, 
Hope  'twill  allus  be  er  rainin' 

Ef  sich  stuff  ez  dis  comes  down, 
Ah  hain't  tickler  'bout  no 

Mansion,  'bout  no  robe 
Ner  'bout  no  crown. 


What's  dat  clock  er  tickin'  Sistah? 

Seben,  er  lebben?    Ah  mus'  go  ! 
Wrap  up  somef un  f o '  de  Pawson 

Kaze  termorrow  ah  11  eat  some  mo'. 


34 


THE  SOLILOQUY  OF  SATAN. 


Sovereign!  Am  I!  By  God's  decree 
Of  Hell  for  all  eternity, 
Where  joy  and  peace  are  never  known, 
Nor  light  of  day  is  ever  thrown. 

My  kingdom,  burneth  with  the  fire, 
Will  flame  and  burn  when  time  is  done, 
When  chaos  and  confusion  reign — 
Extinguished  are  the  stars  and  sun. 


There  demons  rage  in  strife  and  woe, 
Enthralled  like  swine  in  my  domain, 
Where  invocations,  pleas  and  prayers 
To  God  for  succor  rise  in  vain! 


See  how  they  grope  within  the  throes! 
And  gnash  their  teeth  like  dogs  that  bite ! 
Then  weep  like  orphans  at  the  bier 
When  dawns  on  them  there  is  no  flight ! 

Weep,  ye  cursed,  weep  and  groan! 
Thy  sins  ?    Seas  of  tears  can  not  atone ! 
Plead  till  the  years  are  sepulchered ! 
In  Hell  ay,  mercy  hath  no  throne ! 

Heartless  am  I!   My  spirit  knows 
No  justice,  mercy,  feeilng,  none! 
Hatred  and  envy  and  dire  revenge 
Have  come  to  me — my  spirit  won! 


35 


I  laugh  at  misery,  woe  and  pain 
Of  those,  my  captives,  held  in  chain ! 
Ay!  when  the  sun  and  studding  stars 
Have  left  their  sockets  waned  and  paled ! 
Still!  captives  will  they  e'er  remain 
In  Lucifer's  charnal  travail. 

Lucifer  is  called  the  roaring  lion! 
Seeking  whom  he  may  devour! 
Presence  o 'erpowering !  Bold!  as  the  blast! 
Who's  never  known  to  shrink  or  cower. 

Accursed  by  Him  dropped  from  the  throne, 
Where  naught  but  love  and  peace  art  known, 
Because  rebellion  seized  my  heart 
And  made  me  thrust  at  Him  my  dart ! 

"Thou  hast  rebelled,  proud  Lucifer!" 
Depart !  with  those  thy  favorite  hosts ! 
From  thy  imperial  sacred  place, 
Go  down  in  shame,  ruin  and  disgrace ! 

Ay,  such  was  true !  And  mine  the  fate ! 
Thrust !  Through  the  portals,  through  the  gate, 
Down!  the  precipitous  road  to  Hell, 
Forever  there  to  live  and  dwell! 

Hell  leaped  for  joy ;  her  hosts  proclaimed : 
"Proud  Lucifer  droppeth  to  his  shame !" 
Reverberations ;  the  wails,  the  shrieks, 
The  tempest  struggling  up  the  steeps ! 
Seethed!  surged!    and   burned!    ten   thousand 

folds, 
The  depthless  sea  of  sinful  souls! 


36 


Mine  the  prerogative  to  remain? 

Nay !  naught  but  submission  to  that  decree 

Of  Him  who  shapes  all  destiny! 

The  author  of  immortality. 

Ah,  Lucifer,  why  didst  thou  give 
The  demon  thralldom  of  thy  soul 
To  bring  down  judgment  on  thyself, 
To  bar  thee  from  the  streets  of  gold  ? 

Ah !  Lucifer !  Behold,  behold ! 

That  vast,  resplendent  white-robed  throng ! 

There  once  thou  stood 'st  immaculate 

In  praise  and  eulogy  and  song. 

Bedazzling  in  God's   holiness,    outrivaling  me- 
teoric light, 

Whose  fulgence  pierced  the  dark'ning  gloom, 
Dispersing  ebon  shades  of  night ! 

Fool !  Has  thou  been,  proud  Lucifer ! 
To  God  thou  yet  shall  bend  in  tears, 
Brought  to  the  gravity  of  thy  fate 
Clothed  in  the  mantle  of  dire  fears ! 

Who  is  this  King  of  supreme  reign 

Whose  throttling  might  holds  Hell  enchained  ? 

Tis  He  !  my  everlasting  foe  ! 

Who  sinks  me  to  these  depths  below. 

Judge  of  the  court  tribunal  high ! 
Oh  for  my  place  in  yonder  sky! 
Could  my  entreaty  move  Thy  will 
For  reinstatement  'round  Thy  throne, 
Gladly  would  I  flee  to  Thee, 
Where  dwell  the  glories  of  thine  own. 


37 


Oh  drops  of  mercy — dews  of  love 
In  benediction  from  above, 
Fall  on  Lucifer  this  hour, 
From  Heaven's  holy  sacred  tower. 

The  soul  of  Lucifer  now  weeps 
With  surcharged  heart  bleeding  and  torn, 
In  sackcloth  and  ashes  behold!  behold! 
The  vain  proud  Lucifer  doth  mourn ! 

Behold  me  in  this  sin-cursed  plight! 
Eternal  iKng,  disperse  this  night! 
Cast  aside  the  threatening  clouds 
And  lead  me  to  Thy  glorious  heights ! 

Hark !  the  music  of  the  spheres ! 
In  spotless  white  at  God's  right  hand, 
Float  strains  of  that  grand  tribal  band! 
The  hosts  are  marching !  Hear  their  song ! 
Great  King  of  Glory !   Oh,  how  long ! 

How  long  must  Lucifer  remain 
Divorced  from  the  glories  of  Thine  own 
Forgiveness  can  there  be  for  me 
Again  to  sit  around  Thy  throne? 

Doth  Lucifer,  like  the  widow,  mourn  ? 
Like  swaddling  babies  drop  a  tear? 
Arouse  ye  coward !    Doff  thy  fears  ! 
Inspire  thy  soul  again  to  cheers ! 

Away  with  retrospection  now! 
Come  !    welcome  sweet  f  orgetf  ulness  I 
Blot  from  the  memory  of  Lucifer, 
Those  season's  of  his  blissf  ulness ! 


38 


For  every  tear  that  I  have  shed, 
For  every  plea  struck  from  my  tongue, 
Summon  thy  most  destructive  powers, 
Let  souls  from  earth  this  hour  be  flung! 

Ha!  again  did  Lucifer  turn  fool, 
Forget  himself  and  play  the  ass ! 
Furies  of  Hell  burst  forth  anew ! 
Obey !  the  mandates  of  my  blast ! 

I,  the  personification  of  all ! 
That's  naught  but  perverse  to  the  good, 
To  weaken  at  unguarded  time — 
Allow  myself  to  whine  and  brood! 

To  think  that  I  could  condescend 
To  drop  to  humiliation's  shrine, 
While  founts  of  grief  and  sorrows  flowed 
When  memory  didst  my  soul  remind. 

To  rend  my  soul  to  depths  extreme, 
To  fall  repentant  at  His  stream, 
This  vain,  proud  sovereign  power  of  Hell ! 
Susceptible  to  such  a  spell ! 

Away,  with  all  that  tends  to  good ! 
Misery  and  torture  to  man  for  food ! 
Scoff  at  the  pleading  ones  in  tears 
And  mock  the  faltering  one  that  fears ! 

Let  devastation  fill  the  land ! 
Death!  Death!  ride  on!   Spare  not  a  soul! 
Strike  down !  the  unsuspecting  one, 
For  my  captivity,  my  fold! 


39 


Brilliance  of  conquest  is  for  me ! 
Cursed !  be  the  throngs  of  liberty ! 
Their  freedom  stirs  my  soul  to  wrath, 
An  effervescent  aftermath. 

Lucifer,  rule  on  in  infamy! 
Prowl !  the  recesses  of  earth ! 
Barter !  for  the  living  souls, 
For  those  as  yet  not  given  birth ! 

Oh,  ye  of  Adam's  progeny! 
Ye  knoweth  not !  this  hellish  sage, 
Who  thwarts  the  subtlest  of  man 
To  give  him  torture  for  his  wage ! 

Oh  could  I  seize  earth  in  my  grasp 
And  crush  her  as  the  potter's  clay, 
While  o.er  the  battlements  like  swine 
Behold  men  fall  in  fear,  dismay! 

Ay,  when  the  judgment  day  shall  dawn 
The  light  from  every  sphere  hath  gone, 
The  firmament  clouds,  sinks,  disappears, 
To  be  forgotten  as  the  years, 

When  throttling  forces  seize  the  earth, 
And  fires  consuming  have  their  birth, 
Catastrophe  thrown  to  relief, 
While  I  with  cohorts  gloat  beneath, 

Then!  will  my  reveille  break  the  spell, 
And  cohorts  martialing  forth  from  Hell, 
At  my  dictation  mandates  all! 
Like  vultures  seize,  bind  and  enthrall! 


40 


Oh  when  ye  plead  and  cower  in  tears, 
Receive  ye  then  my  mocks  and  jeers! 
I'll  sink  thee  to  the  depths  unknown, 
Keward  for  sinful  deeds,  thou'rt  sown! 

Then,  will  my  soul  well  to  the  heights, 
Where  bliss  is  law,  where  bliss  is  might! 
Quickened  by  misery,  woe  and  pain 
Of  groveling  souls  in  my  domain! 

Away!  Away!    No  reasoning  power 
Could  change  this  demon  for  one  hour! 
Well  might 'st  thou  try  to  move  God's  throne, 
As  try  to  touch  this  heart  of  stone ! 

Such !  is  the  law  of  Lucifer ! 
Written  in  blood  of  suffering  souls; 
Inexorable,  unmoved  am  I 
As  He  who  thrust  me  fro  mthe  sky ! 


41 


WHEN  DE  FIAH  AM  KINDLIN'  HOT. 

To  DR.  H.  L.  HARRIS  AND  L.  N.  REIF. 

When  de  sno'  it  am  er  fallin', 

Winds  er  whizzin'  down  de  lanes, 
An'  de  fros'  it  am  er  freezin' 

Fo'  yo'  eyes  erpun  de  panes, 
Whut  am  beddah  den  er  nestlin' 

'Roun'  er  fiah  dat's  roas'in'  hot? 
Fo '  er  pickahninny  dahky 

Hain't  er  mo'  enchantin'  spot. 

When  de  breezes  am  er  moanin' 

An'  de  sun  am  sinkin'  lo', 
An'  de  gloomy  clouds  an'  shaddahs 

Geddah  'roun'  erbout  yo'  do'; 
When  yo'  hyeah  de  co'n  er  poppin', 

See  de  cidah  all  er  foam, 
In  yo'  soul  de  joy  an'  gladness 

Seems  eroun'  erbout  to  roam. 

An'  yo'  granny  am  er  hummin', 

Cat  er  purrin'  on  de  rug, 
An'  yo'  git  er  sniff  de  burbun 

Dat  am  steamin'  fum  de  jug — 
Umph!  de  berry  'maggahnayshun 

Makes  er  puson  think  it's  real. 
It  am  glory !    Hesh  yo '  mouf ,  sah, 

Doan'  yo'  ax  me  how  yo'  feel. 


42 


All  yo'  troubles  an'  yo'  burdens 

Seems  to  take  de  swif'es  flight! 
Tears  yo'  berry  soul  am  lif'ed 

To  de  blissful  mountain  heights! 
Whah  de  lan's  erflo'  wid  honey, 

Streets  an'  alleys  paved  wid  gol', 
An'  de  simphonnies  o'  heaben's 

Got  er  sweetnes'  kaint  be  tol'. 

Yo'  kin  sing  de  songs  o'  Moses, 

Shout  yo'se'f  clah  to  de  sky! 
Pickahninny 's  den  in  cloveah, 

No  time  den  to  weep  an'  sigh. 
Let  de  sno'  keep  on  er  fallin', 

Let  de  breezes  whizz  an'  moan, 
Longs  er  pickahninny 's  neslin' 

'Roun'  er  hot  fiah  ub  his  own. 


43 


WISHED  I'D  RODE  MAH  HOSS. 

To  JOHN  F.  WILSON  AND  DR.  SHBRMAN  LEACH. 

Rode  on  dat  ah  'lectric  kyah! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
No  musstake  it  raised  mah  hyah! 

Oddah  bin  er  long! 
Nebbah  seed  sech  runnin'  son! 

Swo'  we's  flyin'  to  de  sun! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  days  was  done! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Gee !  dat  thing  did  split  de  ah ! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 
Nuffin'  wid  it  kin  compah! 

Oddah  bin  er  long! 
Ebbry  ting  was  blurred  in  sight ! 

Dus'  flew  higher  den  er  kite! 
Kooden'  tell  de  lef  fum  right! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

When  she  struck  eroun'  de  kyerve, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
It  unstrung  mah  ebbry  nerve ! 

Oh,  but  I  did  squirm! 
Oh,  she  kyahd  us  down  de  line ! 

No  hobo  kood  stuck  behine! 
Ef  he  had  he  'd  gone  stone  bline ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 


Now  an'  den  she  sortah  reel! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
Stirred  me  up  fum  head  to  heel ! 
Lawd  but  I  did  quake ! 
Tawk  erbout  er  pow'ful  prah! 

I  sho'  made  one  den  an'  dah! 
Strain  was  mo '  den  I  kood  bah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Once  I  hyeahd  er  moighty  crack ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
Tho't  she's  gwine  to  leeb  de  track, 

Oddah  seed  me,  Chile ! 
I  felt  mos '  prekareyus,  son ! 

I  hain't  tawkin'  jes'  fo'  fun! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  days  wus  done, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 


45 


JES'  KEEP  ER  LOOKIN'  UP. 

To  E.  M.  HULSE  AND  W.  H.  SYFKRT. 

Ef  yo'  frens  dey  all  fo'sake  yo', 
link  yo'  gwine  flat  to  de  wall, 

Salt  an'  peppah  nebbah'll  save  yo' 
Fum  an  ebbah  las 'in'  fall. 

Ef  yo '  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo ', 
^You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 
^Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 

Drunk  f  um  dis  same  bittah  cup  ! 
Ef  yo'  habben'  got  er  dollah, 

An'  no  place  to  lay  yo'  head, 
An'  de  meadows  an'  de  co'n  fields 

Only  places  f o '  yo '  bed ; 

Ef  de  fo'ks  am  cuttin'  capeahs 
'Fo'  yo'  puttin'  on  dey  airs, 

Wid  dey  silks  an'  wid  de  satins, 
An'  all  uddah  kine  o'  wares. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 

Yo'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 
'Membrin"  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 

Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup ! 
Dey  may  tramp  erpun  yo '  f eelin  's, 

Dey  may  kick  yo'  on  de  co'n, 
An'  may  tarn  dey  nose  up  at  yo' 

Ez  dey  pass  yo '  in  dey  scorn ; 


46 


Smiles  dey  nebbah  may  hab  fo'  yo', 
Bes'  yo  '11  git  will  be  er  frown, 

An'  sum  wurds  mos'  harshly  spoken, 
Kaz  dey  think  dat  yo'  is  down. 

Ef  yo'  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo', 

You'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 
'Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 

Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup ! 
Ef  fo '  bread  yo '  ax  er  bruddah, 

An'  instead  yo'  git  er  stone, 
An '  yo '  ax  f o '  consullayshun, 

An'  yo'  bahly  git  er  groan, 

An'  sum  knock  yo'  off  yo'  shins, 

An'  tink  yo*'  nebbah  gwine  to  rise, 
Swah  to  God  dey  nebbah  done  it, 

Meekly  tell  all  kine  o '  lies ; 
Let  'em  go  on  hykerflootin ', 

Ebbry  dog  sho'  habs  his  day; 
Dey  am  uddah  months,  mah  bruddah, 

Jes'  ez  pleasant,  ez  am  May. 

Ef  yo '  got  de  right  stuff  in  yo ', 
Yo'll  keep  allus  lookin'  up, 

'Membrin'  sum  de  worl's  bes'  jewels 
Drunk  fum  dis  same  bittah  cup! 


47 


LAMENTATION. 

To  T.  W.  MCGOVBRN  AND  DR.  D.  R.  WILLIAMS. 

When  de  rent  cums  due 

An'  yo  haben  got  er  dollah, 
An'  yo'  hab  to  hunt 

Fo '  er  nuddah  place  to  wollah, 
De  wintah's  dun  come, 

An'  de  coal  pile's  sinkin', 
Dey's  nufin'  in  de  cupboard 

An'  yo'  stummuck  am  er  shrinking 

How  yo '  head  wool  geddahs ! 

How  yo '  hunt  an '  scratch ! 
Fo'  to  skibbah  up  er  dollah 

Beats  de  ol'  Sam  Patch! 

When  yo'  sot  an'  'fleck, 

Seems  befo'  yo'  keeps  er  bobbin' 
De  possum  an'  de  coon, 

An'  de  peach  an'  apple  cobblin'. 
Yo'  dream  'bout  summah, 

Wid  de  joocy  wattah  millun, 
Dat  yo'  sotin'  in  de  middle 

An'  yo'  stummuck  jes'  er  fillin', 

How  yo '  mouf  does  wattah ! 

How  yo'  stummuck  jes'  jump ! 
An'  yo'  eyes  am  full  er  dazzle 

An '  y  o '  hump  !  hump  !  hump  ! 


48 


When  de  night  cums  on 

An'  dey  hain't  er  nuf  de  kibbah, 
While  yo '  bunk  an '  snooz 

Fo'  to  keep  yo'  fum  de  shibbah, 
De  coal's  done  sinkin' 

Till  it  am  no  mo', 
De  weddah  am  at  zero, 

De  worl  am  kibbahd  in  de  sno ', 

How  yo '  head  wool  gaddahs ! 

How  yo'  hunt  an'  scratch 
Fo '  to  skibbah  up  er  dollah 

Beats  de  ol'  Sam  Patch ! 


49 


WHEN  DE  SUMMAH'S  DUN  CUM. 

To  W.  H.  C.  DODSON,  Springfield,  Ohio. 

When  de  wintah's  done  gone 
An'  de  summah's  done  come! 

An'  de  birds  begin  dey  wahble 
An'  de  bees  begin  dey  hum, 

An'  de  hills,  de  fields,  de  meadows 
Wid  de  verdure  all  am  green, 

An'  de  heaben's  panorama 


Den  er  niggah  kin  sing ! 

Den  er  niggah  kin  hum ! 
Kaze  de  wintah's  done  gone, 

An'  de  summah's  done  come, 

When  de  vines  am  climin', 

Spreadin'  beauty  on  de  run, 
An '  de  cullahs  o '  de  Ian  'scape 

An'  de  sky  dey  blen'  ez  one, 
An'  de  flowahs  ez  dey's  buddin' 

An'  er  blossom'  an'  er  bloom, 
An'  de  breezes  fan  dey  petals 

Koch  dey  sweets'  smellin'  'fume, 

How  yo '  soul  inspahs ! 

How  yo'  hea't  does  tickle ! 
Den  er  niggah  am  happy 

Ef  he  haben '  got  er  nickel ! 


50 


When  de  craps  am  wavin' 

An'  de  tassel's  on  de  co'n, 
An'  de  apples  am  er  drapin' 

An'  de  sweepahtayters  born, 
An'  de  cabbage  am  er  headin', 

Swellin'  lak  dey  got  de  mumps, 
An'  de  passnups  am  er  peepin' 

Winkin'  at  yo'  hine  de  stumps, 

How  er  niggah  kin  whis  'le ! 

How  his  soul  does  'joice ! 
'Kaze  it's  time  fo'  de  millun 

An '  it 's  time  f  o '  de  squash ! 


51 


UNCLE  NED  AN'  DE  MOCKIN'  BIRD. 

To  DR.  EARL  W.  EUANS  AND  DR.  J.  H.  J.  UPHAM. 

Bruddah  Mocking  Bird, 

Yo's  moighty  lazy. 

To'  doan'  do  nufin' 
But  sing  dat  song, 
Till  de  daylight's  gone 
An'  de  night  cum  'long. 

Er  coon  has  got  to  hoe  an'  hoe, 

Till  de  sinkin'  sun 
Tells  de  day  to  go. 

Lawd,  but  yo'  sing 

So  pow'ful  sweet! 
Perched  up  dah, 

In  yo'  leafy  seat. 
Is  yo'  lonesum? 
Does  yo'  hea't  feel  sad? 
Tears  to  me 

Dat  yo'  soul  feels  glad. 
Ez  Ise  wockin'  hard, 

Sweet  ez  de  cloveah 
Yo'  song 

Floats  obeah, 
Way  in  de  co'nfield 

Whah  de  medlark  sings, 
Up  in  de  bough 

Ub  de  tree  it  clings. 


52 


Yo'  nebbah  wock 

But  yo'  bread  is  sho', 
Out  in  de  yahd; 

'Fo  ebbry  doh, 
Sum  kine  han' 

Th'ows  de  little  crum! 
Kaze  dey  kno'  fo'  sho' 

Dat  yo'  boun'  to  come. 

De  good  Samaritan 

Part  dey  play. 

Let  yo'  go  'way? 
Hungry  ?  No ! 

Dey  neb  ah  wood, 
Kase  de  Lawd  wood  say 

Dat  dey  wasn't  good. 

I  kinedah  lak 

To  hyeah  yo'  sing, 
Ef  yo'  is  too  lazy, 

To  flop  yo'  wing, 
Sing  on, 

Fill  de  worl'  wid  song. 
I  mus'  be  gittin' 

Man  wock  er  long. 


53 


LULLABY. 

To  STACY  B.  RANKIN 
AND  DR.  C.  G.  HKCKBRT,  President  of  Wittenberg-  College. 

Pickahinny,  Pickahinny, 

Close  yo'  little  eyes. 
Evenin'  am  er  'proachin', 

Tells  yo'  sleep  an'  quit  yo'  cries, 
Mammy's  gwine  to  keep 

All  o'  de  boogahnran  erway — 
Gyahd  her  little  pickahninny 

Till  de  cumin'  day. 

Pickahninny,  Pickahninny, 

Sleep  an '  take  yo '  res ' ; 
Sleep'  wid  all  de  cumfort 

Ub  de  birdies  in  dey  nes'. 
When  de  sun's  done  sinkin', 

In  de  eas'  begin  to  rise, 
Mammy's  little  pickahninny 

Den  kin  ope'  its  eyes. 

Pickahninny,  Pickahninny, 

Mammy's  little  love, 
May  de  gyahdin'  angels 

Hubbah  'roun'  de  fum  erbove. 
Wid  dey  sof 'en  sweetnn  whispahs 

Keep  de  lull'd  er  sleep, 
While  de  weary  lonely  hours 

Slowly  onward  creep. 

Pickahninny,  Pickahninny, 

Keep  er  fas'  er  sleep, 
While  de  weary,  lonely  hours 

Slowly  onward  creep, 
Day  will  soon  be  breakin', 

Sun  er  creepin'  'cross  de  skies, 
Mammy's  little  pickahninny 

Den  kin  ope  it's  eyes. 

54 


PAWSON  JOHNSON  AT  DINNER. 

To  HON.  E.  O.  RANDALL  AND  MR.  U.  H.  GURNBA. 

He'p  you'se'f,  mah  bruddah, 

Jes '  make  yo  'se  'f  at  home  ! 
'Kaze  yo'  am  no  stranger 

To  Siss  Wiggle  Sloam. 
Go  'head  on  dat  chicken, 

'Kase  it  tissen  skace ! 
"Doan'  yo'  worry,  sistah, 

I  is  in  no  has  'e ! 

"Lan'  sakes,  Sistah  Wiggle, 

You'  treat  me  lak  er  king! 
Ha !  ha !     'Skewze  me,  sistah, 

One  mo '  chicken  wing » 
Tote  me  few  dem  waffles, 

Chittlins  good  an '  hot ! 
Ebbah  ting  ise  eatin' 

Trabbles  to  de  spot ! 

Lawd  Gawd!  Sistah  Wiggle, 

I  jes'  seed  dat  'possum ! 
Hidin'  an'  er  grinin' 

'Hine  dat  sunflow  'r  blossom ! 
'Fo'  I'd  let  dat  'possum 

Git  out  o'  mah  sight, 
Th'ow  erside  mah  Gospel, 

To  de  las 'I'd  fight! 

Bruddah,  kain't  yo'  sortah 

Gibb  er  little  toas'? 
'Deed  I  kain't,  Gawd  knows  it, 

Whah  dey's  'possum  roas'! 
Feed  de  lambs,  mah  Sistah, 

Whut  de  good  book  say ! 
Yo's  fulfillin'  Scripshah 

Treatin'  me  dis  way ! 


55 


WAY  DOWN  SOUF! 

To  S.  H.  WAITB  AND  J.  W.  PARMBNTER. 

Sing  dat  song  once  mo'  Miss  Mandy, 
Jes'  once  mo',  jes'  ef  yo'  please! 
Sounds  ez  sweet  ez  angel  whispers, 
An'  de  song  birds  'mong  de  trees, 
It  kyahs  me  back!  way  back  yonder, 

Way  down  Souf ! 

Whah  we  tromped  thoo'  de  cotton  fields, 
An'  when  ah  hearts  was  sad, 
We  sing'd  dat  chune 
Fo'  to  make  ah  souls  glad, 

Way  down  Souf! 

Yo'  know  nuffin'  'bout  dem  days,  Miss  Mandy, 
Dat  was  bef o '  yo '  time  ! 
'Sides,  yo's  been  rared 
In  er  diffun'  clime! 

Yo'  nebbah  had  to  wock  fum  de  fus'  horn  bio', 
Lak  we  uster  had  to  wock 
Till  de  sun  sink'd  low, 
Way  down  Souf! 

But  we  had  good  times,  Miss  Mandy! 
Sum  good  ol'  times  fo'  sho'! 
But  ol'  Misy  an'  ol'  Massa, 
We  diden'  let  'em  know. 
Yo'  bet  we's  mighty  kyahful 
When  we  had  ah  dance  an'  feas', 
Dat  ol'  Missy,  an'  ol'  Massy 
Diden'  git  an'  inklin'  in  de  leas'! 


56 


When  ah  hyah  dat  chune,  Miss  Mandy, 
Ah  wants  to  step  erbout, 
An'  do  jes'  lak  de  ol'  fo'ks, 
Ez  dey  uster  sing  an'  shout, 

Way  down  Souf ! 
I  kin  see  dem  now! 
Ez  dey  raised  dey  voice  to  sing, 
An'  sot  de  ol'  big  cabin, 
In  one  great  big  ring ! 

Way  down  Souf! 

But  dem  days  done  gone,  Miss  Majidy ! 
Dey's  gone  lak  er  dream. 
An'  de  ol' fo'ks, 
Done  crossed  de  stream ! 
But  doh  dey's  gone, 
An'  ah's  lef '  erlone, 
An'  ol'  age  creeped 
In  mah  ebbry  bone, 
Dey's  er  hankerin'  feelin'! 
Keeps  er  dribein'  me  back, 
Way  down  Souf! 

When  er  dahky  is  ol', 
An'  his  step  comes  slo', 
An'  he  totters  lak  er  reed, 
When  de  sof  wind  blows, 
An'  all  his  ties  ob  erf  am  dead, 
An'  fo'ks  all  strange 
Whah  ebber  he  tread, 
It's  de  ol'  time  chune, 
Wid  er  clah,  keen  knack ! 
Dat  makes  yo '  feel  new. 
'Pears  yo'  youth  come  back, 
Way  down  Souf! 


57 


THE  QARREL. 

To  DR.  MERRILL  RICKETTS,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Whose  yo '  sputein '  sah  ? 

Whose  yo'  sputein'? 

Look  hyah,  lemmee  tell  yo', 

Don't  yo'  fool  wid  me! 

Ah's  er  gemmen  ob  'portance 

It's  er  fac'  ah  doesn't  lie. 

What's  dat?    Yo'  say, 

Yo'  gwine  to  smack  me  in  de  eye? 

Now  look  hyah  mistah  Dahky, 
Don 't  yo '  peet  dat  ting  ergin 
Don't  git  me  rambunkshus 
Kaze  ah's  got  on  mah  gin! 
Ef  yo's  sarchin'  fo'  trouble  sah, 
Come  on!    Ah  is  yo'  man. 
Ah '11  kyarv'  yo'  into  chittlin's 
Wid  dis  razzah  in  mah  han'. 

Is  yo'  got  de  dasstee 

Fo'  to  stan'  up  dah  an'  clah 

An"  clah  yo's  gwine  to  smack  me 

Lak  er  big  puzsimmon  bah  ? 

Why  dog  mah  cats  to  goodness ! 

Ef  ah  wasn't  er  deacon 

Ah'd  butt  yo'  in  de  belly 

Till  yo'd  be  no  good  fo'  speakin'. 


58 


Don't  yo'  dah  to  speak,  sah! 

Don't  yo' — look  hyah,  don't  yo'  dah! 

Deacon,  er  no  deacon, 

Ah  bet 's  ah  '11  mawl  yo '  whah  yo '  ah ! 

Yo'  got  de  fewgelarty 

Fo'  to  pussecate  me  so? 

Ah's  got  er  pow'ful  notion 

Fo '  to  kick  yo '  out  de  doh ! 

"Ah'd  lak  to  see  yo'  do  it! 
Does  yo '  tink  ah 's  skyaid  ob  yo '  ? 
Now  deacon  crack  yo'  whoop,  sah ! 
An'  ah '11  sho'  yo'  fo'  we's  f roo  ! 
Ah's  seed  er  many  nigger 
Big  ez  yo'  sah,  dah's  to  be, 
Ah's  had  de  fusstess  time,  sah! 
Fo''to  hab  'em  wollup  me. 

Ah's  hyahd  'em  tawk  ez  big 
Ez  all  yo '  blowin '  hyah  tonight. 
'Twas  nuffin  else  but  win'  sah, 
Ebbry  one  was  skyaid  to  fight ! 
Yo's  bilein'  an'  er  stewin' 
Lak  er  lion  let  loose'  in  Zion, 
Yo'  knows  yo'  all  kain't  whoop  me, 
Dat  it's  foolish  fo'  yo'  tryin'. 

Ah's  gwine  to  fix  yo'  deacon, 
Fo '  de  way  yo 's  'suited  me ! 
Ah's  gwine  to  cunjer  yo'  sah ! 
Jes'  ez  sho'  ez  we's  bofe  free. 
Ah's  gwine  to  hab  yo'  crawlin' 
On  yo '  belly  lak  er  stiail ! 
When  ah  hides  dat  bottle, 
Yo '  knows  ah  isn  't  gwine  to  fail. 


59 


Ah's  got  mo'  den  one  Nigger 

Totein'  'roun'  hyah  on  er  cain. 

Ah  11  use  er  dozen  rabbitt's  foots 

To  chuck  yo '  full  ob  pain. 

Use  'suited  mah  indiggnee 

An'  ah '11  use  er  barrel  ob  salt, 

To  boot,  besides  yo'  hyah  me? 

Kaze  yo 's  de  blame  an '  yo 's  de  fault ! ' ' 

Now  see  hyah  Brudder  Ramsack 
Ah  perfess  ah  is  to  blame, 
Less  drap  ah  li'l '  sputein ' 
Brudder  git  er  li'l'  tame. 
Ah  bleebs  in  peace  an'  hawmny 
We's  too  ol'  to  cut  sich  pranks 
Brudder !  'cep '  mah  pollgee. 
An'  receive  mah  humble  tanks ! 

Hawmony,  de  Debbel! 

Yo's  too  late  to  tawk  sich  stuff 

Dey  hain't  no  changin'  hosses, 

Ah's  gwine  to  cunjer  yo'  up  rough. 

Ah  isn't  gwine  to  swaller 

Whut  yo 's  said  to  me  tonight ! 

Dey's  no  use  argerfyin', 

Ah's  gwine  to  cunjer  yo',  dat's  right. 

Tutt !    Tutt !    Brudder  Eamsack ! 
Less  us  bofe  be  frens'  ergin'. 
ome,  ah's  got  sum  appjack! 
Come  hyah!    Ah's  got  sum  gin! 

Well,  look  hyah,  Deacon  Spasm, 
Ah '11  jes'  try  yo'  fo'  er  bluff! 
We'll  drap  de  cunjer  business, 
Lemmee  tas  'e  sum  ob  dat  stuff ! 


60 


WISH  'TWAS  ALLUS  JES'  LAK  DIS! 

To  DR.  JOHN  THOMAS  AND  MR.  A.  L.  GILMORE. 

Dis  hyah  weddah, 
Kain't  be  beat! 
De  ah  is  sof 
De  ah  is  sweet ! 
Lots  er  sun, 
An'  plenty  rain, 
Dey's  gwine  to  be, 
Lots  er  golden  grain ! 

Tumble  bug, 

Am  piddlin'  'roun', 

Tarpin's  froo 

His  sleepin'  soun'! 

Hopple  toad 

Done  lef  his  waller, 

Done  begin  his  summer  holler! 

Medder  lawk 

Is  singin '  fine ! 

Bees  ah  busy 

In  de  vine ! 

Dis  mus'  be 

Whut  fo'ks  calls  bliss! 

Wish  'twas  allus, 

Jes  lak  dis! 


61 


TRUSSY'S  VISIT. 

To  MR.  JACOB  SCOWDEN  AND  MR.  G.  W.  C.  POOR. 

Bress  mah  life!    Why  dis  hain't  Trussy! 
Go  'way  chile  !    Whut  's  dat  yo '  say  ? 
Yo'  hain't  fiddlin'  Peedah's  sonnie ! 
Who'd  er  thowt  it,  any  way ! 

Ax  me  ef  ah  knows  yo '  daddy ! 
Know'd  each  udder  years  ergo, 
Me  an'  him  hab  bofe  tergeddah, 
Hoed  er  manny  tayter  ro '. 

Res'  yo'  duddins!    Take  de  sofah! 
Make  yo'se'f  jes'  lak  yo's  home. 
'Cep'  mos'  free  mah  hosspertality, 
Plenty  time  eroun'  to  roam. 

Look  hyah  Dina !    Am  dem  chittlins ' 
An'  dem  hogfeet  thoo  er  bile? 
Who  yo '  tink  we 's  got  f  o '  dinner  ? 
01'  fren'  Fiddlin'  Peedah's  chile  ! 

Well,  sah,  ah  hain  't  seed  yo '  daddy, 
Since  dat  fig  htat  'Possum  Trot ! 
Dog  mah  cats !  we  bofe  tergeddah 
Whoop 'd  de  Debbil  on  de  spot! 

Still  er  libbin'  down  in  Guinea? 
Why  dat 's  mah  ol '  rompin '  groun ' ! 
Hain't  er  spot  ner  nook  ner  crebice 
Dat  ah  don't  know  'bout  dat  town. 


62 


Tawk  erbout  yo'  huntin'  'possums, 
Chasin'  coons  an'  sich  ez  dat, 
Ah's  done  been  plum  thoo  dat  kentry, 
An'  ah  knows  jes'  whah  dey's  at. 

Well  ah  hain't  been  down  in  Guinea, 
Since  de  year  ob  forty-two, 
Dat  am  been  er  long  time,  sonnie, 
An'  mah  fren's  dah  lef '  am  few. 

Well  sah  ef  dis  hain't  er  bressin'! 
Fo'  to  meet  ol'  Peedah's  chile, 
Look  hyah  tell  de  ol'  man,  sonnie, 
Is  yo'  gwine  to  stay  erwhile 

Is  yo'?    Wei'  ah  sho'  am  tickled 
Fo'  to  hyah  yo'  say  dat,  son, 
'Spec'  yo's  feelin'  pow'ful  hungry! 
Wait  ah '11  see  ef  dinner's  done. 

Keady,  Dina?     Bress  de  Lawd,  umph! 
Mah  ol'  lady  am  er  sight! 
Kin  she  cook?    Whut?    Don't  yo'  stawt  me! 
She  sho '  kin  put  tings  up  right ! 

Wawk  out,  Trussy,  go  pertakin' 

Ob  de  bes'  de  ol'  man's  got! 

Kose  tain't  much,  but  probably  sumpin's, 

Dah  will  kinder  tech  de  spot ! 

Sot  right  dah,  right  dah,  sah,  sonnie, 
Kaze  ah  wants  yo'  close  to  me. 
Ah  is  now  ez  happy,  sonnie 
Jes'  ez  happy  fo'ks  kin  be. 


63 


Go  'head  say  de  bressins,  Trussy! 
Fo'  de  Lawd  sake,  cut  'em  short. 
Lemmee  post  yo'  fo'  yo'  stawt  in, 
Don't  yo'  preach  an'  try  to  e'hort. 

"Make  us  tankful  Heab'nly  Foddah, 
Fo '  dis  hyah  pussippeus  spread ! 
Hyah  deez  few  mos'  feeble   'spreshuns 
Dat  yo'  humble  sahvent  shed. 

Gibb  us  wid  ah  daily  bread,  sah! 
Chicken  an'  all  sich  ez  dat, 
Frow  in  now  an'  den  er  possum, 
Coon  wid  plenty  lean  an '  fat ! 

Po '  dy  bressins   on  dis  f  amly, 
Put  mo'  chickens  on  dey  roos', 
Tings  gits  skace  dey  needs  er  he'p'in' 
Len'  er  han',  gibb  'em  er  boos'! 

Amen!     Trussy?    Dat  ah  bressin's 
Poort  nahs  good  ez  ah  kin  do. 
Chile,  yo'd  make  er  fair  good  deacon 
An'  ah  bleeb  er  preechah,  too! 

He'p  yo'se'f,  don't  wait  fo'  passin', 
Take  whut  ebber  dah  yo'  see. 
We  don't  put  no  ahs  on  hyah,  sah! 
We's  ez  plain  ez  fo'ks  kin  be. 

We  beleebs  in  bein'  ol'  fashion, 
We  hain't  bodder'd  bout  de  style. 
Dina?    Whah's  mah  pot  ob  chittlins? 
Trussy?    Eat  sum  mo'  stuff,  chile. 


64 


Mah  sakes!   Trussy?    Dem  dah  hogfoots 
Sots  dis  ol '  soul  all  er  chune ! 
Well  sah !  Look  at  Trussy,  Dina, 
Cock  dat  lef  eye  at  dat  coon! 

Yo'  hain't  full  kin  to  yo'  daddy, 
Ef  yo'  doesn't  lak  de  coon, 
Possum,  chicken,  sweep ahtayters, 
An '  sum  good  ol '  musherroons ! 

Whah's  ol'  Susan  Peecock,  Trussy? 
Habs  de  Debbil  got  her  yet? 
Sakes  erlie  she's  had  mo'  husbahns 
Den  yo's  fingers  got,  ah '11  bet! 

Does  ah  membah  Slimmy  Twostep? 
Who?    Dat  po'  ol'  onry  cuss? 
Use  tah  hug  de  stobe  when  happy, 
In  church  raise  all  kind  ob  fuss'? 

Come  on  wid  dem  pig  tails  Dina ! 
Don't  be  primpin'  in  de  glass. 
Mussen'  make  de  ol'  man  wait  so! 
Yo'  looks  poody  nuf  to  pass. 

Look  hyah,  chile,  yo'  hain't  froo  eatin' 
Is  yo'?    Don't  be  skyahd  to  eat. 
Ef  yo's  eat  all  dat  yo's  mind  to, 
We'll  tromp  out  an'  see  de  wheat. 


65 


